Union Activism in the Community and Beyond
Alternative First response
The Alternative First Response Campaign has been a significant focus for the United Workers of Integral Care (UWIC) throughout 2024. Our mission is to reform the current emergency response system to better serve our community, particularly those experiencing mental health crises. Traditional law enforcement responses to mental health crises often escalate situations and can result in harmful or fatal outcomes. Mental health providers, equipped with the right training and resources, can de-escalate crises more effectively and provide the necessary care and support to individuals in distress.
In collaboration with the Austin Justice Coalition and the Austin EMS Association, UWIC has been at the forefront of advocating for alternative responses to crises. Our combined efforts have focused on education, strategy, and community engagement. We conducted joint learning sessions to understand the EMS and Integral Care systems of response, identifying critical gaps in the availability and capacity of crisis response teams. This groundwork enabled us to develop a comprehensive budget proposal, which we presented to City Council, advocating for increased funding for Integral Care crisis teams, specifically the Expanded Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (EMCOT) and the 911 Mental Health Call Responders (C3). Our proposal included increases in wages, additional facility space, more vehicles, and expanded personnel to ensure these teams can operate 24/7.
Our advocacy efforts were bolstered by a town hall meeting where we gathered community feedback and educated the public about existing systems of care. This engagement built a strong coalition of support from various stakeholders, including community members and advocacy groups. After months of persistent lobbying, we celebrated a significant victory when City Council approved an increase of $1.46 million in one-time funding for Integral Care crisis teams. This win represents a crucial step towards making our community safer and more supportive for everyone.
However, the $1.46 million in one-time funding is not enough to sustain 24/7 operations for even half a year. Therefore, our ongoing efforts include continuous lobbying with City Council to secure comprehensive and indefinite funding in the next city budget and working with Integral Care management to allocate the one-time funding effectively, prioritizing increased wages to ensure fully staffed teams. Our ultimate goal is to expand services, making alternative first-response teams available 24/7, and providing consistent and reliable support for individuals in crisis. We remain steadfast in our commitment to advocating for a more just and effective emergency response system, dedicated to the well-being and dignity of all individuals in our community. Our fight continues as we strive for lasting change and sustainable support for mental health crisis intervention.
Meetings with Congressman Greg Casar and Lloyd Doggett at the 2024 CWA Legislative Convention
UWIC Members Cole and Aloki with Representative Lloyd Doggett
UWIC Members Cole and Aloki with Representative Greg Casar
The United Workers of Integral Care (UWIC) met with Congressmen Greg Casar and Lloyd Doggett to discuss critical issues concerning our workforce. Members of the UWIC Political Committee spoke with the Congressmen about how the Integral Care workforce provides essential services to our community, and their compensation must reflect the vital nature of their work. Our current wage structure needs to adequately support the cost of living in our area, the current salaries make it difficult for employees to sustain themselves and their families. This leads to high turnover and chronic understaffing. We emphasized the necessity of fair and livable wages to ensure the well-being of our dedicated staff, and ultimately for the care our clients receive. During the discussion, both Congressmen were shocked at the low salaries at Integral Care and were highly motivated to help UWIC in their efforts to increase their wages. Rep. Lloyd Doggett and staff stated that they would also research how to better fund Integral Care, possibly by federal grants, and talks are ongoing between his office and UWIC.
During our discussions, UWIC advocated for the Congressmen to support Integral Care adopting the Just Cause Policy, which ensures that employees are treated fairly and can only be terminated for legitimate, well-documented reasons. Additionally, we emphasized the need for an Employee Ombudsman to provide an independent resource for employees to address grievances and ensure their voices are heard. These measures are crucial for maintaining a motivated and effective workforce that can continue to provide high-quality care to those who need it most.
Our discussions with Congressmen Casar and Doggett are a significant step towards achieving these goals. Both Congressmen have shown a strong commitment to supporting workers' rights and improving conditions for employees. Their willingness to engage with us and understand our concerns highlights the importance of our mission and the critical role our employees play in the community. We extend our gratitude to Congressmen Casar and Doggett for their time, attention, and support. We look forward to continuing our collaboration to create a better future for all Integral Care employees and the community we serve.
Calling for Ceasefire in Gaza
On April 2, 2024, the United Workers of Integral Care released a statement calling for a permanent ceasefire in the ongoing conflict and the genocide being perpetrated by Israel against the people of Gaza. The statement is as follows:
We are acknowledging the extent of the war crimes and genocide committed against the people of Palestine. 250 people are killed each day in Gaza, and 30,000 people, many of whom were civilians, have been killed up to this point. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has destroyed hospitals, health centers, schools, universities, infrastructure, cultural centers, churches, and mosques. They have done so with bombs, missiles, and even internationally banned weapons like white phosphorus. There is nowhere a Palestinian may be safe in this war of extermination. There must be continued protests against the shipment of U.S.-made weapons to the occupation in Palestine, as well as continuous calls for a ceasefire.
Additionally, the IDF occupation in Gaza has led to:
• the suspension and termination of contracts with thousands of workers in the Gaza Strip
• limited ability for union activities, such as to conference and make statements, to guarantee the need for humanitarian aid and influence international public opinion to expose the truth about IDF crimes
We stand in solidarity with the people of Gaza and are proud to join the Unions across the world that are calling for a ceasefire and engage in actions to support the people of Gaza and end the War.
Endorsement of Jose Garza for Travis County District Attorney
On February 29, 2024, UWIC released the following statement endorsing Jose Garza for Travis County District Attorney.
José Garza stands out as a beacon of progress and justice, even amidst opposition from a hostile state legislature and governor. Fulfilling key campaign promises, Garza has made significant strides in holding police accountable. Garza has championed workers' rights with wage theft indictments and taken bold stances on healthcare and reproductive rights, refusing to prosecute families seeking care for transgender children and individuals seeking abortions in Travis County. His dedication to addressing substance use disorder through harm reduction and advocating for alternatives to incarceration underscores his belief in restorative justice and community-driven solutions. José Garza exemplifies the leadership necessary to challenge injustice and champion the rights and dignity of all citizens, proving essential for advancing real justice and empowering the working class in Texas.
Jose Garza won the Democratic primary with 67% of the vote.
UWIC looks forward to helping re-elect Garza in the general election, and for Garza to continue his work in criminal justice reform and his efforts to make Travis County a more just place to live, for all.